
October 5, 2016

Glenlivet black outside or black inside

There’s a new one that’s NAS and very mysterious, which is kind of the same thing. Frankly, I don’t know what to think. It’s called ‘Cipher’, and let’s try it. And I’m sure we’ll manage to find a fitting sparring partner afterwards.

Glenlivet ‘Cipher’ (48%, OB, 2016)

According to a charming brand ambassador of some sort, I’m supposed to taste this baby while browsing some special web pages. Why not, but I haven’t got any Internet connection while writing this, so maybe I’ll do that later. As for the story and the packaging, I’d love to know where they’ve found those new pills… (Apologies, you know we love you). Colour: pale gold. Nose: classic, pretty natural, slightly flowery, with good vanilla and notes of hoppy beer. Then the usual overripe apples, pears, and gooseberries. And cakes. Perhaps two rose petals. It’s Glenlivet. Mouth: you feel some oak, so some pretty active wood may have been in use, like in many modern NAS. Vanilla, sawdust, and a growing bitterness from the oak. Not quite bourbonised, but you get the idea. Finish: maltier, but with even more oak spices, between ginger and cinnamon. Comments: I don’t feel very inspired, I’ll really need to check those special web pages. What’s sure is that this is a little too oak-forward for me – but hey, that’s only me. Other than that, it’s a very fine dram. Oh and the fruit flies love it. SGP:461 - 79 points.

Eennie meenie … oh this is unfair!...

Glenlivet 41 yo 1974/2015 (46.8%, Signatory Vintage, oloroso finish, cask #1, 363 bottles)

Actually more double maturation, as the finishing lasted for four years. So yeah, this is unfair, but life is unfair, and after all, there isn’t anything telling us that the NAS wasn’t very old as well (yeah, quite). Colour: amber. Nose: subtle, drier than expected, not sherry-monstrous, and full of various tobaccos, earths, and nuts. And wild mushrooms. Add a touch of camphor and pinesap. And ferns and mosses. A touch of manure as well. I adore this kind of nose. Have I mentioned walnuts? Mouth: okay, it’s very oaky, but that’s a whole different oak than the Cipher’s. Loads of bitter chocolate, chewing a cigar, crunching coffee beans, and sucking black tea leaves. So yeah, it’s very oaky and tannic, but quite bizarrely, the whole kind of works. Frankly, it’s like eating some 99% cocoa chocolate (coz, you know, they can’t make 100%). Finish: very long. Perhaps too long ;-). Comments: spectacularly oaky, this is almost walnut stain. And yet, I like it quite a lot, must be some kind of disease. But you’ve been warned. SGP:381 - 89 points.

Check the index of all Glenlivet I've tasted so far